Minato-ku, Tokyo

It is a center of business activities where many headquarters are located. Many foreign corporations and embassies are found in this area. In addition, there are many foreign residents; which makes this area probably the most international in Japan. Minato-ku includes business districts such as Toranomon, Shimbashi, and Shiba; commercial areas such as Aoyama, Akasaka, and Roppongi; residential areas such as Azabu and Shirokane; and large-scale redevelopment districts such as Shiodome and Daiba. The ward also has areas of abundant green and nature such as The Crown Prince's Palace and The State Guest House in Moto-Akasaka, Shiba Park, and the Institute of Nature Study in Shirokanedai, which show that the ward consists of many different faces.

Many large-scale commercial complexes with hotels and conference centers are concentrated in the ward such as the Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown, Toranomon Hills, ARK HILLS, and Shiodome Sio-site. The “Special Zone for Asian Headquarters” an initiative started by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to attract foreign companies includes the major business areas in the ward such as Roppongi, Toranomon, Shimbashi, Tamachi, and Shinagawa. Foreign companies which establish their head offices in these areas can enjoy the benefits of preferential treatment of local tax discounts, deregulation, financial support, business and life support, and so on.

Minato-ku is an area where facilities and service for foreigners are the most concentrated. There are many establishments providing foreign residents with convenience of life such as international schools, English speaking hospitals, and international supermarkets. Luxurious housing in Minato-ku are mostly condominiums and single-family houses designed with European and American style layouts for foreign executives and diplomats. High class condominiums usually provide front desk services in English.

Major Facilities in Minato-ku

Residential Districts in Minato-ku

Hiroo

A number of trendy coffee shops and restaurants are found in the Hiroo area. In addition, many embassies are situated and many foreign expats reside here. While it is a convenient area located next to the downtown districts including Roppongi, Ebisu and Omotesando and the business districts such as Roppongi Hills, the area is quiet and has peaceful atmosphere with rich greenery. It is traditionally known as an elegant, luxurious residential area.Be ...

The Azabu-Juban shopping street is known as a traditional shopping street. On the other hand, many trendy, stylish shops and restaurants scatter along the street. It has a unique feel of both local feel and cutting edge trend gathering next to each other. Many different areas within Tokyo are easily accessible by the Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line and the Toei Oedo Line. Roppongi is within walking distance. Due to recent redevelopment, large tower apartments ...

The area around Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown is one of the trendiest districts in Tokyo. Both are the multi-complex structures widely known as the largest redevelopments in Japan. Many foreign corporations have their head office here. This area serves as an international business district during daytime and as an entertainment district at night. You can enjoy international cuisine including Thai and Indian foods as well as kebab from a street stall ...

The area is developed around Aoyama 1-chome Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. It is an elegant residential area situated in an environment with plenty of greenery. A lot of graceful, luxurious houses and apartments can be found in this area. Many stylish boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and antique shops are dotted along Aoyama-Dori Street; which makes this area popular not only among Japanese but also among foreigners as a town for adults. Ha ...

This area is developed around Akasaka Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line and Akasaka-Mitsuke Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Marunouchi Line. While being a business district where Japanese governmental institutes including the National Diet Building gather, it also serves as an entertainment district where higher end dining places such as Korean restaurants, Japanese restaurants and bars gather. Many notable hotels also concentrate in th ...

This area is developed around Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line and Ginza Line as well as Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line. Omotesando is referred as 'Champs-Elysees' in Tokyo. That is a stylish and trendy street where fashionable boutiques and popular restaurants stand side by side. Once away from the street, there lies a luxurious residential area, which is popular among foreigners. While being next to Aoyama and Omotesando ...

It is the area around Shirokanedai Station on the Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line and the Toei Mita Line. A quiet luxurious residential area lies around Platinum Street that is lined with high-end restaurants and coffee shops. The Institute of Nature Study offers rich greenery to this area. Many foreigners live in the area. There are some places that have a beautiful Japanese garden such as Sheraton Miyako Hotel and Happoen, etc. 'Shirokane AER City' consisti ...

It is a luxurious residential area spreading around the hilly area from the west of JR Shinagawa Station towards Tamachi Station. Many famous hotels gather here. The JR train lines and the Toei Asakusa Line offer a good access to many areas within Tokyo. In addition, Haneda Airport and Yokohama area can be reached easily by taking the Keihin Kyuko Line. Since Shinkansen (bullet trains) stops at JR Shinagawa Station, it is very convenient to go to the w ...

Many areas within Tokyo are easily accessible from Shinagawa Station by taking JR train lines or the Toei Asakusa Line. In addition, Haneda Airport and Yokohama areas are also accessible by taking the Keihin Kyuko Line. Since Shinkansen (a bullet train) stops at JR Shinagawa Station, it is very convenient to go to the western part of Japan such as Osaka. The area towards the ocean from JR Shinagawa Station has been newly developed. Following the devel ...

A number of trendy coffee It is the area around Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. It is a business district next to Kasumigaseki where many Japanese national governmental institutes gather. Many companies including TV stations and foreign companies are located here. Since it is almost the center of Tokyo geographically and being very close to Otemachi, Roppongi, Azabu, Shinbashi and Ginza, it is very convenient to go anywhere. The Hotel Okura, the Swedish embas ...

Commercial Districts in Minato-ku

Roppongi / Kamiyacho / Akasaka / AtagoMany business districts such as Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi, Arc Hills in Tameike, Shiroyama Hills in Kamiyacho, Izumi Garden in Roppongi 1-chome are located in these areas. A number of embassies and hotels as well as foreign-affiliated Japanese companies gather here. As a result these areas are very international.

Shibuya / Ebisu / Hiroo / Aoyama / OmotesandoSeveral train lines come across at Shibuya, Ebisu and Omotesando stations; which makes these areas very convenient. Hiroo is an international area where embassies concentrate. Aoyama and Omoesando areas are known as fashionable areas where apparel companies and Japanese-branch companies of well-known foreign brand name companies gather.

Shinbashi / Shiodome / Hamamatsucho / Tamachi / ShibaShinbashi is a commercial area that lies next to premium locations of Hibiya and Yurakucho. Shinbashi is busy with many business people. Shiodome area has been newly developed. In addition to modern high-rise buildings, hotels and an Italian town are found here. Hamamatsucho is convenient to get to Haneda Airport and the warehouse area. Many head office of Japanese companies are located in Tamachi. Once leaving Yamanote Line towards inside of the tra ...